300tdi suddenly chnaged to poor starting

criky18 · Nov 18, 2011

1996 300tdi Disco. 190,000 miles. Always guaranteed to start first time but its suddenly started struggling. It fires for a second on first turn then nothing. Crank the engine for some ten seconds and then it will slowly burst in to life and all is well. Only seems to do it on a morning cold start... thereafter its fine for the day.

The one thing I've noticed is that the lift pump attached to the block has a completely loose hand lever with no resistance or pumping when engine stopped. Have tried various engine postions in case it had disengaged but still no resistance at all on this hand lever. Could it be a failed lift pump ? Apart from that there is nothing obvious.

Any help or ideas well appreciated - thankyou.

landowner · Nov 18, 2011

criky18 said:
1996 300tdi Disco. 190,000 miles. Always guaranteed to start first time but its suddenly started struggling. It fires for a second on first turn then nothing. Crank the engine for some ten seconds and then it will slowly burst in to life and all is well. Only seems to do it on a morning cold start... thereafter its fine for the day.

The one thing I've noticed is that the lift pump attached to the block has a completely loose hand lever with no resistance or pumping when engine stopped. Have tried various engine postions in case it had disengaged but still no resistance at all on this hand lever. Could it be a failed lift pump ? Apart from that there is nothing obvious.

Any help or ideas well appreciated - thankyou.

Does sound like fuel running back from pump.
Could be leak off pipes or lift pump

Oh and my lift pump has only reistance at the bottom of the stroke for some reason and its near new

GRATCH · Nov 18, 2011

Looks like you know the first thing to try replacing already.

jamesmartin · Nov 18, 2011

most likely getting air into system .likft pump may well have failed but inoperation of outer lever doesnt mean cam lever isnt working,look at pipes going into sender unit under rear floor especially passenger side one as it is feed for pump,sedimentor behind chassis drivers rear wheel best bypassed as well as lift pump

criky18 · Nov 18, 2011

Many thanks so far for thoughts.

Certainly feels like air leak with pump needing to prime after standing. Will look around tomorrow and as I'm not as able as you youngsters I'll have a look at leak off pipes first - then we'll have a look underneath - presumably looking for a fuel leak?

criky18 · Nov 23, 2011

Feedback.

Thanks guys . I think and hope I have a fix.. The 3 braided fuel leak off pipes adjacent to injectors were well perished, gungy and wet with fuel. These now replaced with some small bore perspex tubing until I can get some proper tubes.

As you suggested looks like I was getting air in which fuel pump had to deal with first before firing up properly. Last couple of mornings the engine has fired first time and run as normal.

many thanks for your thoughts which I hope will have provided a long term solution.

rollin danny · Nov 24, 2011

criky18 said:
Feedback.

Thanks guys . I think and hope I have a fix.. The 3 braided fuel leak off pipes adjacent to injectors were well perished, gungy and wet with fuel. These now replaced with some small bore perspex tubing until I can get some proper tubes.

As you suggested looks like I was getting air in which fuel pump had to deal with first before firing up properly. Last couple of mornings the engine has fired first time and run as normal.

many thanks for your thoughts which I hope will have provided a long term solution.

Glad you got it sorted ! Ive got some of that braided pipe from Halfords under my seat just incase of emergencies.

300tdi suddenly chnaged to poor starting

criky18

New Member

landowner

Pensioner Pete

GRATCH

HUGE MEMBER

jamesmartin

Well-Known Member

criky18

New Member

criky18

New Member

rollin danny

Well-Known Member

Similar threads